Archive for Enlistment – Page 2

3 Ways to Get to Know Potential Leaders

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Monday, August 8th, 2016

FishingTogetherWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Too many potential leaders run away scared because we enlist them poorly. After praying for leaders, observe potential leaders and then get to know them before enlisting them. Doing so will produce greater likelihood of enlistment success.

WHAT DO I DO? Consider these 3 ways to get to know a potential leader.

  1. Spend time together. Gather away from class. Visit in the leader’s home or yours. Eat a meal. Talk. Get to know each other. Share your vision and hopes for the class. Ask questions. Be interested. Listen.
  2. Do life together. Go to a ball game. Watch a movie. Take a walk, hike, or run. Take a class together. Meet a need. Serve together. Pray together. Read a book and discuss it. Study a Bible book or passage together. Go fishing. Observe. Share. Learn.
  3. Do Sunday School ministry together. As you get to know the leader, begin to ask him/her to help you with class ministry. Ask for help in making a visit. Don’t assign the visit. Go together. Ask for help in planning a fellowship. Don’t assign a task. Do it together. Ask for help in preparing a lesson. Study and talk together.

When you spend time, do life, and Sunday Sunday School ministry TOGETHER, you will discover evidence of potential leaders’ strengths and attributes for joining you as class leaders. This evidence will come in handy when you ask them to join you. Your prayer and observations can give them courage to say yes.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership, Prayer
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The Right Way to Ask a Potential Leader to Join You

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 6th, 2016

NeededWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Too often the right people say “no” to us and to God when we enlist them. Sometimes it is our fault. How can we avoid this?

WHAT DO I DO? First, make sure you have prayed (Matthew 9:38) and observed them before asking them. When you are sure this is the one God desires to join you, then ask them this way:

  • set up a face-to-face meeting that won’t be rushed,
  • tell the potential leader you have been praying for someone to help you with ____ and why ____ is important,
  • tell the leader that God has brought him/her to your mind and as a result you began watching what God was up to in his/her life (give examples of what was observed),
  • tell the leader that because what you had observed confirmed that they were the right one, you began spending more time with them (in life and class ministry–remind them of some shared experiences),
  • tell the leader that you are convinced that he/she is the right leader to help you and the class, and
  • ask the leader to pray for up to a week about joining you in this work (set up a time to get back together for an answer).

In my experience, many good leaders will give excuses for not serving if we do not pray and give them evidence of how God is at work in them. Help leaders say “yes” to God by praying, observing, and spending time together before enlisting them.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership
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3 Things to Observe When Enlisting a Leader to Help You

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 4th, 2016

BinocularVisionWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Most teachers can only care well for about 5 people. Often teachers are good at one or two of the following: teaching, member care, and outreach. To care well and grow a class requires teachers to surround themselves with other leaders. But how do I find the right one?

WHAT DO I DO? First, pray and don’t rush! Then determine the greatest need you and the class have. With the specific need in mind, begin to observe these three areas:

  • Testimony. Listen. Listen to what is said about life, God, and the Word. Look for clues about what God is doing in a potential leader’s life. Is spiritual maturity expressed? What do you learn from the potential leader and others about the leader’s character?
  • Interactions. Pay attention to how the potential leader relates to others. Are good people skills used? Is care expressed? Does the leader listen well? Is there a concern for discovering and meeting needs? Are the fruit of the Spirit evident?
  • Opportunities. Do life together. Eat a meal. Go to a game. Make a visit or plan a fellowship together. Make assignments. Talk. Get to know each other. Debrief experiences to gain further insight.

Patiently pray. God will send the laborers (Matthew 9:38). Seek His leadership. Focus on one need. As you pray, observe how God is at work in the potential leader’s life through testimony, interactions, and opportunities. When you are sure of God’s choice, ask the leader to join you!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership
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Leader Discovery Starts with Prayer

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016

PrayerHandsWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

For a group to grow and be effective, a team of leaders is needed. A team provides accountability, synergy, and improved span of care (one leader for five people). Jesus modeled team, and He prayed all night before calling his disciples (Luke 6:12). We should pray too!

WHAT DO I DO?

In Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV), Jesus said: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Notice your part:  pray that the Lord will send laborers. Your job is not to decide the ones He will choose. Pray.

Yes, keep your eyes and ears open after you pray. Observe what He is doing in their lives. Listen to their testimonies of His work in their lives and of their walk with Him. Keep praying.

Take the potential laborer with you. Do life together. Eat a meal. Ask for assistance with group work:  a visit, fellowship, or project. Pray together. Get to know the person better. Debrief experiences to discover awareness and insight. Keep praying.

When you are sure this person is the laborer the Lord has sent, ask him/her to come alongside of you to help you with the group. When you tell leaders you have prayed for them and observed God at work in their lives for weeks or months, they are more likely to join you. Keep praying for this leader and begin praying for another!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership, Prayer
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Prepare to Start Fresh This Year

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016

 

FreshWhen does a fresh year of Sunday School and small groups begin. Many launch close to the start of the school year. That means that many launch on the first Sunday of September, second Sunday of September or a couple of weeks before September.
Others opt for a time earlier in the summer. Why earlier? The decision is often due to a desire to move (promote) teens or children into the next grade shortly after the school year ends. As a result, some launch a new year of groups on the first Sunday of June, July, or August.

No matter when your new year begins, there are some things that can be done to prepare for a great, fresh launch:

  • pray and seek God’s leadership and blessing;
  • enlist God-called leaders;
  • start new classes;
  • provide training for every teacher and leader;
  • commission every worker;
  • clean and straighten all classroom space;
  • restock and straighten the supply/resource closet;
  • paint/update classroom space;
  • prepare new classrooms;
  • replace worn equipment and furnishings;
  • organize to reach and care for people;
  • prepare good records;
  • make contacts with all members, absentees, and prospects;
  • plan new year fellowships;
  • communicate well with all workers;
  • plan outreach/ministry/service projects;
  • set goals for contacts, new members, attendance, and discipleship;
  • set aside time for a planning retreat;
  • and more.

Are you ready yet? What are you doing to prepare for the new year? Share it with by pressing Comments. Give God your best effort. Pray. Start well. Plan. Launch new leaders and classes. Reach and care for people. Make the new year fresh!

For more ideas about launching a fresh year, check out these posts:

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Categories : Enlistment, New Groups, Organization
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